By CHIOMA OBINNA
Federal government has been urged to include technique of Breast Self Examination into the school curriculum. The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, MWAN, in a communiqué issued after it’s 17th Biennial Scientific Conference and General Assembly in Lagos tagged; “Revisiting the myth behind Maternal and Infant Mortality: Can e-health/m-Health Make a Difference” noted that all females from JSS3 or at menarche should be proficient in the technique of Breast Self Examination, BSE.

The communiqué signed jointly signed by the 2011 National President of MWAN, Dr. Mma Wokocha, National Secretary, Dr. Juliana Olufunke Lawson and Chairperson Scientific Committee, Dr. Frances Oluwafunmilayo Ajose stated that the skill of BSE in the nation is valuable in the early diagnosis of breast cancer but most Nigerian females are ignorant of the skill.

Lamenting the rising incidence of death from breast and cervical cancers in the country, and the contribution of the very high infant mortality to the recorded low lifespan of Nigerians, they stressed the need for government to urgently upgrade existing outdated cancer diagnostic facilities as well as focus on cost-effective early detection and cancer education.

The experts further called for the inclusion of the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, vaccine and the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PCV in the National Programme on Immunisation.

They said: “That regular cervical examination in the form of Visual Inspection by Aceto-whitening (VIA) and the Papanicollau Smear (Pap Smear) are cheap but useful tools for early detection of cervical cancer while the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine can effectively prevent most cases of cervical cancer. However, facilities for both VIA and Pap Smears are far too sparse in the country and the HPV vaccine is currently unaffordable to those who need it.”

Noting that diesel exhaust fumes from electricity generators are potential carcinogens to the lungs, they urged Government to intensify efforts towards safe electricity generation in order to reduce environmental pollution from the carcinogenic effects of diesel exhaust fumes.

This, they said, will also ensure the maintenance of the cold chain required for the vaccine delivery system as well as facilitate the use of modern technology in health maintenance, diagnosis and management of diseases.

Expressing worry over the affordability of PCV vaccine by most Nigerians, the experts said the vaccine may significantly reduce death in children.

On the need to improve the health indices of the country, they called for positive attitude and practice of safe infant feeding among all mothers including the HIV positive mothers as part of efforts to reduce infant mortality.  “All infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, thereafter complimentary feeding with locally available food should be introduced”.

They commended the current efforts of the Federal government and some States at increasing the population of Skilled Birth Attendants in the country, geared towards reducing our embarrassingly high Maternal and Neonatal Mortality.